The Stinger - Newsletter of the Alabama Beekeepers Association. Newsletter of the Alabama Beekeepers Association.

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1 December 2017 Newsletter of the Alabama Beekeepers Association Inside This Issue Letter from the President by David Ellis Letter from the Vice-President by Bill Evans Letter from the Treasurer by Bonnie Funderburg Letter from the Secretary by Susan Ellis Alabama Master Beekeepers News David Kelton Regional Beekeeping Organizations Updated by Jerry Carter In The Kitchen Miele Marino Classifieds It s election time in most regional clubs. Make sure you send in your updated information Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!! December 2017 Page 1

2 Letter from the President It is that time again. Time to close the old year out and to start a brand new one. That means it is time to try and finish up any old projects and take on new ones with the New Year. I have plans to build plenty of new supers and brood boxes for the New Year. I am planning on a good size increase of hives for this coming year. For all of our new beekeeping members, you need to plan ahead for the upcoming year and get started this Winter. Don t make David Ellis the same mistake that most beekeepers make and wait until the last minute to have any needed supplies on hand. Before you know it Spring will be here and that means swarm season, then you will need that extra box or hive and you will not have it on hand, unless you planned ahead. So, go through your inventory, plan for what items and equipment you will need, get it ordered or built before you need it. Do some reading up on your beekeeping while cold weather keeps you out of the hives. Educate yourselves as much as possible, so you will be ready in the Spring. With the thought of education on my mind let s not forget that Dr. Tews workshop will be coming up on the first Saturday in February. This is always a great opportunity for someone to update their education on beekeeping, If you know someone who is thinking about starting a beekeeping adventure this is a great place to get started, get supplies and meet the vendors. As we are bringing this year to a close I just want to thank everyone for the help this year and I am looking forward to seeing all of you next year. I would also like to wish each and every one a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year!! David Ellis December 2017 Page 2

3 Letter from the Vice President I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I know that you are all looking forward to a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. As we contemplate the new year of 2018, let s factor in the major statewide beekeeping events coming up. Dr. Jim Tew s ACES Symposium will be held, as usual, on the first Saturday in February (February 3 rd in 2018) at the Clanton Conference and Performing Arts Center. As you probably know, this is Bill Evans typically the most widely attended meeting for state beekeepers. Bonnie has already ed registration forms to all ABA members, so register now. You also need to consider taking advantage of the classes that will be offered the week after Dr. Tew s Symposium at the Master Beekeeper program, scheduled for Thursday - Saturday February 8 th, 9 th & 10 th, 2018 at the Clanton Conference & Performing Arts Center. The information taught there will certainly make you a better beekeeper. Next on the annual agenda is the ABA Spring Picnic. We have reserved the Lanark Pavilion in Millbrook, where we held the last two year s picnics, for the first Saturday in May (May 5 th, 2018), so save that date on your calendar. From the feedback that we got from you after the event the last couple of years, the venue was an overwhelming favorite, especially regarding the facility itself as well as its central location near the center of the state and its convenient proximity to I-65. The third major beekeeping event will be our annual Fall Conference, to be held, once again, at CPAC in Clanton on Friday and Saturday, September 21 st and 22 nd, Consult the ABA website at for details of the program and the speakers as plans develop and we ll also update you in upcoming editions of The Stinger. Let us know if you have suggestions for topics and/or speakers. Merry Christmas and Happy New year, Bill Evans December 2017 Page 3

4 Letter from the Treasurer I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving and will get to enjoy Christmas with family and friends. I have already had too much to eat. I attended three of the Local Club s Christmas celebrations, Jefferson County, Blount County, and Walker County and all three had lots of very good food and I enjoyed visiting with folks at each place. Remember that next month is time to Bonnie Funderburg pay membership dues for the 2018 year for the Alabama Beekeepers Association. Several have already paid theirs but check and see if you need to renew. There is a renewal form available at If you cannot print one out, just mail me a check for $10 payable to the Alabama Beekeepers Association with a note telling me of any changes of your information, such as new address, telephone, address etc. Mail dues to: Alabama Beekeepers Association, c/o Bonnie Funderburg, 1260 Easley Bridge Road, Oneonta, Al I hope to see all of you at the ACES Symposium on February 3 rd in Clanton. For information, check our website: Thanks. Bonnie Funderburg Membership Report Members as of 10/14/ New Members -11 Renewals Members as of 12/14/ December 2017 Page 4

5 Letter From The Secretary Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all members of The Alabama Beekeepers Association. I am looking forward to seeing you in the New Year. Respectfully, Susan Ellis From The Webmaster Grow your organization One of the best ways to grow and or maintain any beekeeping organization is to teach beekeeping classes. Next, you need to get the word out that you are offering the class, where, when, cost and any other pertinent information. The ABA can help in this area by including your class listing on our Webpages ( To do that just send an to the Webmaster and add some chairs at future meetings for your new members! I get a lot of request for beekeeping class information from all around the state, if I do not know, I cannot refer them to the proper persons. If your class is listed they would contact you directly. Click here for the current list of classes offered that have been reported to the Webmaster. EXAMPLE: (I received this 12/16/2017) I would like to know more about this. I live in Mobile, Al. Is there Honey Bee classes closer to me? Thank you, Name withheld Information withheld Mobile, AL Mobile: (251) XXX XXXX Phone: (251) XXX XXXX Fax: (815) XXX XXXX Bob Fanning Webmaster December 2017 Page 5

6 Do you want to collect free swarms? If so the ABA can be of assistance by adding your name to the statewide Swarm Retrieval list on our webpages. To do so, just send an to the Webmaster that includes your name, telephone contact number and what communities, cities and or counties you willing to collect swarms from. is preferred over a phone call because your information can be cut and pasted thus reducing transcription errors. Also, if you or someone you know is on the list but is no longer in beekeeping please let the Webmaster know. You can view the current swarm by list clicking here. Likewise, please check your listing and contact the Webmaster if you need changes or find errors. This list is pretty big and is changed often. Each change introduces the possibility of errors, so please do check your listings. Bob Fanning Webmaster Oxalic Acid to Treat For Varroa Mites Use of Oxalic Acid to treat for Varroa can be applied by two methods. The most often used is the sublimation process. It requires a special wand that is powered by a 12V battery. Usually this battery is from a vehicle. Also protective gear is a MUST to wear while applying the compound. A respirator mask is best. 1 gm of the powder is applied at a time per each deep box. The time frame is 2.5 minutes and a waiting period of about 10 minutes before moving on to the next hive. After 2.5 minutes you must disconnect the wand. A kitchen timer is an added asset. The one I like is: CDN TM30 Direct entry 2- Alarm timer, $13.15 at Amazon. If you purchase the wand (that is heated to 375 degrees F) it will include a small measuring spoon for the correct amount of OA powder. A double deep hive uses 2 gm. There are several models available and the cost varies somewhat. The Kelly Co. has one with an automatic timer which I find very useful and recommend. I have one of these models as well the OxaVap model. There are probably others. Check ads in the bee journals Bee Culture and American Bee Journal You will need breathing protection and goggles for your eyes along with some nitrile gloves. OA sublimes (goes from a solid directly to a gas) into formic acid, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and water. The original cost is December 2017 Page 6

7 not cheap, but the end result is that this is a one time purchase. So far there is no known mite resistance to OA. It leaves no residue in wax, but as with any mite treatment there should be no honey on the hive. You can replace the honey (supers) 10 minutes after treatment has been completed. It has been used in Europe for several years. OA is common wood bleach that can be purchased from local hardware stores; however this brand is not legal in the U.S. at this time. The only approved source of OA, at this time, is Brushy Mountain Bee Supply Co. (Ph. (800) ). It should be purchased only from them. Why? For one thing they have the highest degree of pure OA. If you choose the vaporization wand, may I suggest you team up with other beekeeper friends to share the initial costs. Over time this equipment will pay for itself. The best times of the year are late fall and late winter. Or early spring. Before the beginning of a nectar flow. The temperature should be above 45 F degrees. As with any mite treatment do not apply when there are honey supers on or during a nectar flow. The Trickle Method OA powder can be mixed in a 1:1 solution of simple sugar syrup and trickled between frames. A recipe is as follows: 35 gm (equals 1.2 oz) in 1 quart of sugar solution. A large syringe is needed to measure out the exact amount of solution. One is available from Brushy Mountain Bee Farm. You trickle 5ml per frame space directly onto the bees between the frames. Do not remove the frame to do this. This amounts to 50 ml for a 10 frame hive. With no brood there is about 85% mite kill or 60% kill with capped brood. No matter which method you choose, only the phoretic mites (mites clinging to bees) are killed. None of the mites under capped brood are affected. Do not repeat either treatment for at least 2 weeks. Overdose can be harmful to queens, workers, and the drones mating capability. See the May 2017 issue of American Bee Journal for an excellent article from which much of this was taken. Brushy Mountain Bee Supply Co has a drizzle kit available and at this time is the only company that sells Oxalic Acid that is USDA approved. A more recent tool is an insect fogger. You can find one at a garden supply or building materials store with a garden center. Burgess and Cutter are good products to consider. To one pint of food grade mineral oil add 6 teaspoons of wintergreen oil and follow the manufacture's directions. Then puff a couple of trigger squeezes at the entrance to the hive. These devices are powered by a small propane bottle. So they get hot at the front end. The heat vaporizes the oil. For the reservoir bottle use a half pint jelly canning jar. Wearing a face respirator is a good idea. It would be an excellent plan to test for a mite count before using this device. And then follow up the next day to see how effective December 2017 Page 7

8 the treatment was. Note: all one time treatments only kill the phoretic (mites on the bee s bodies) and do not kill any under the caps of brood. Do not repeat before waiting several days, especially when treating with OA. Waiting at least 2 or 3 weeks to repeat use of an OA wand is highly recommended no matter what someone tells you! Combating Small Hive Beetles Nematodes for control of SHB Phone..(478) This company sells enough nematodes to treat the ground around and under 10 hives. At the website there is a video of the process to properly inoculate the ground around and under hives. There are several devices to install within a hive that kill SHBs using cooking oil. The Beetle Jail from Dave Miller is very effective and is best placed in opposite corners between the side of the box and the outside frame. There is a formula for an attractant solution to install in the center compartment. If you buy a Beetle Jail, Dave includes the recipe. There is the Beetle Blaster which is also an effective gadget. Use of microfiber cloth works well. Swifter cloth pads can be cut into pieces about 3 inches square and placed on the top bars at the opposite corners gets some beetles. Their feet are caught in the fibers and they eventually die. The bees will propolize the cloth to the top bars. It can be removed with your hive tool. I have heard of using diatomaceous earth on the ground, but do not know much about this method nor if it works well. My guess is that it will be washed away in a heavy rain storm and inoculation will have to be repeated from time to time. Its purpose is to kill the SHB larva when they leave the hive to pupate in the ground. Same is true of the nematodes. Wil Montgomery Upcoming Events 2018 ACES Symposium..Feb. 3, 2018 Al. Master Beekeeping Program Feb. 8 th th Check the classes link at alabamabeekeepers.com for a listing of upcoming beginner beekeeping classes,,,if you have an event you would like to add to the list, send it to: carterbees@charter.net December 2017 Page 8

9 23rd Annual Alabama Cooperative Extension System Beekeeping Symposium Saturday, February 3, :00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Clanton Conference & Performing Arts Center 1850 Lay Dam Road Clanton, Alabama Lat. N , Long. W Pre-Registration: $35 per person $50 Per Person after January 19, 2018 at the door Sponsors: Alabama Cooperative Extension System Alabama Beekeepers Association Driving Directions: From north Alabama going south on I-65: Take Exit 212 Clanton. At the stop sign at the end of the off-ramp, turn RIGHT toward Clanton. Go 1.1 miles on Highway 145 which is Lay Dam Road. Turn LEFT into Jefferson State Community College. Park in the back of the building. From south Alabama going north on I-65: Take Exit 212 Clanton. At the stop sign at the end of the off-ramp, turn LEFT toward Clanton. Go 1.3 miles on Highway 145 which is Lay Dam Road. Turn LEFT into Jefferson State Community College. Park in the back of the building. From west of Clanton coming east on Highway 22, intersect Highway 145 in Clanton at the intersection of 4 th Avenue North and 7 th Street North. Continue straight, staying on Highway 145 for 2.5 miles. Turn RIGHT into Jefferson State Community College. Park in the back of the building. From east of Clanton coming west on Highway 22, intersect Highway 145 in Clanton at the intersection of 4th Avenue North and 7th Street North. Turn RIGHT, staying on Highway 145 for 2.5 miles. Turn RIGHT into Jefferson State Community College. Park in the back of the building. For more information, visit: December 2017 Page 9

10 ACES Beekeeping Symposium Registration Form Mail by January 19, 2018 Name(s): Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: ( ) Mobile: ( ) Pre-Registration@ $35.00 per person Quantity Total $ Pre-Registration ends January 19, At the door registration is $50 per person. Online Registration is available until January 19, 2018 at: &course=c180203&publish=anyway Lunch is provided for those who pre-register. Meal tickets will be in participant packets. Please indicate # of vegetarian meals needed. Please indicate # attending the Beginner Beekeeper Program. Mail to: Dr. Paul L. Mask, ACES, 107 Comer Hall, Auburn University, AL Telephone: (334) ; Fax (334) ; rjf0014@tigermail.auburn.edu Make check payable to: Auburn University CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY: Non-Refundable December 2017 Page 10

11 Sooner or later in a new beekeepers endeavor he or she will have an excess of honey. What to do with all the extra honey. Well, for most the answer is simple, sell it. It is the reason a lot of beekeepers get started, to make a little extra money, and there is nothing wrong with that. In my observations of beekeepers, however, one of two things will happen before you get to sell your first jar of honey. Either you become passionate about beekeeping or it quickly turns into a chore that becomes very hard to maintain. In either scenario, the money you might make becomes a very minor point. Inevitably, for the beekeepers that do stay with it, the question becomes what should I charge for my honey? Well, you know the old saying...ask 10 beekeepers the same question and get 20 different answers. The range of honey prices in Alabama is as varied as the types of honey out there. I have seen a one pound jar of honey sell for $5.00 and I have seen that same size jar as high as $ For me I decided on $8.00 per pound. For all the work my family and I put into it, that seemed a fair price. I know the region you are in will have to be taken into account, but so far that seems to be working in my area. Here are some of the average prices sent to me by Wil Montgomery, as taken from Bee Culture Magazine December Honey Prices Region 3 Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia and Florida Pint $8.06 Quart $ Region 4 Midwest Pint $ Quart $ For 2017 overall region 3 Pint $ Quart $ Interestingly the price for #1 cut comb was from $5.00 to $24.00 What s in your wallet/purse? Overall for region 4 Pint $ Quart $ Merry Christmas...Jerry December 2017 Page 11

12 Regional Beekeeping Associations Alabama Mountain Beekeepers Association meets the last Thursday of the month at 6:00PM; 1590 Tabor Road Cut Off, Gadsden, Al Barbara Pavey: President; Baldwin County Beekeepers Association--meets the first Monday of the month at 6:45PM; PZK Hall, Al hwy-104, Robertsdale, Al Rebekah Hargraves: President; Bibb County Beekeepers Association meets the first Thursday of the month at 6:30; Cahaba Lily Center on Main Street in West Blocton, Al. David Hamm: President; ; Blount County Beekeepers Association meets the fourth Thursday of every month, except November and December, at 6:30; Blount County Resource Center, US Hwy 231, P.O. Box 188, Cleveland, AL Jerry Carter: President; ; Central Alabama Beekeepers Association (Montgomery, Elmore and surrounding counties) meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 6:00PM; Elmore County Extension Office, 340 Queen Ann Rd., Wetumpka, Al Allyson Andrews: President; Chilton County Beekeepers Association meets the first Thursday of every month at 6:00PM; Clanton Recreation Center, 309 1st St., Clanton, Al. Larry Wyatt: President; Conecuh County Beekeepers Association meets the third Tuesday of each 6:30 PM at the Conecuh County Extension Office, 102 Liberty Street, Evergreen, AL Contact is President: Billy Blair, blairmobileva@yahoo.com. Cullman County Beekeepers Association meet the second Tuesday of the odd numbered months (January, March, May...ect.) at 6:00PM; Main ALFA Building, 307 Main Street, Cullman, Al. Phillip Garrison: President; East Alabama Beekeepers Association meets the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30PM; Ashland Housing Authority Meeting Room, 35 East Circle Drive, Ashland, Al, Luke North: President; Contact Jeff Monroe for more information: Cell or office jmonroe@firerescuehelp.com Etowah County Beekeepers Association meets the first Thursday of the month at 6:30PM; Carnes Rec Center, 102 Case Ave. SE, Attalla, Al., David Kelton: President; ; honeybees60@gmail.com December 2017 Page 12

13 Jackson County Beekeepers Association meets the first Thursday of every month at 6:30PM; Jackson County Farmers Federation Building, John T Reid Parkway, Scottsboro, Al. Keith Fletcher : President; keith.fletcher@mda.mil Jefferson County Beekeepers Association meets the third Thursday of every month except December at 6:30PM; Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 2612 Lane Park Road, Birmingham, AL John DeBuys: President; jeffcobees@jeffcobees.org Limestone County Beekeepers Association meets the second Thursday of every even month (Feb, April, June...ect.) at 6:00PM; Limestone County Water Authority, Hwy 72, West Athens, Al, Lionel Evans: President; lcbees.al@gmail.com Lower Alabama Beekeepers Association (Butler and surrounding counties) meets the second Saturday of odd numbered months (January, March, May...ect.) at 2:00PM; Antioch Baptist Church, 2303 Old Stage Rd., Greenville, Al. Ralph Pugh: President; Madison County Beekeepers Association meets the second Thursday of every odd month (January, March, May...ect.) at 6:30PM; Huntsville Botanical Garden, 4747 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, Al. Ricky Walls: President; ricksmailbag@yahoo.com Mobile County Beekeepers Association meets the second Thursday of the month at 6:45PM; Grace Tabernacle Church, 2001 Dawes Road, Mobile, Al. Johnny Johnson: President; contact Jane Spicciani for information; janespicc@gmail.com Northeast Alabama Beekeepers Association (Calhoun and surrounding counties) meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6:30PM; Calhoun County Administration Building, County Extension Auditorium, 1702 Noble Street, Anniston, Al. David Goodson: President; contact Jerry Gilbert for information jerry@gilbertandco.com Perry County Beekeepers Association meets the second Tuesday of every odd month (Jan., March, May...ect) at 6:00 PM: Siloam Baptist Church, 505 Washington Street, Marion, Al.; Shelley Nicholls: President; ; shelleyfish@me.com St. Clair County Beekeepers Association meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM; Riverside Marina Building across the street from the Riverside Fire Dept. Lat. N , Long. W Jimmy Carmack: President; ; purealabamahoney@yahoo.com. Sand Mountain Beekeeping Association (Marshall and surrounding counties) meets on the third Thursday of each even numbered month (February, April, June...ect.) at December 2017 Page 13

14 6:30PM; Guntersville Public Library, 1240 O Brig Avenue, Guntersville, Al Bob Cole: President; ; honeyandbees@charter.net Saugahatchee Beekeepers Association (Lee and surrounding counties) meets the first Tuesday of even months (February, April, June...ect.) at 6:00PM; Lee County Extension Office, 600 7th Street, Suite 4, Opelika, Al. Samantha Shaw: President; gregsamshaw@gmail.com Shelby County Beekeepers Association meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30; First Presbyterian Church of Alabaster, 8828 Hwy 119, Alabaster, AL Kelley Frederick: President; info@shelbybees.org : shelbybees.org Southeast Alabama Beekeepers Association (Coffee and surrounding counties) meets on the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM; Coffee County Extension Office, 1055 East McKinnon Street, New Brockton, Al. Tim Faulkner : President; ; timfaulkner@aol.com Contact: Phillis Wilson: Secretary; for more information Southwest Alabama Beekeepers Association (Escambia and surrounding counties) meets the Third Monday each month at 6:30; Pentecostal Holiness Church, 839 Palafox St, Flomaton, AL Bill Blair: President ; blairmobileva@yahoo.com Tallapoosa River Beekeeping Association (Tallapoosa and surrounding counties) meets the third Thursday of every month at 6:00; Dadeville Recreation Center, 116 Kids Ct, Dadeville, AL. Keith Robinson: President; ; rangerkr@hotmail.com Tennessee Valley Beekeeping Association (Lawrence and surrounding counties) meets on the second Thursday of every even numbered month (February, April, June...ect) at7:00pm; Moulton City Hall, 720 Seminary Street, Moulton, Al. Jo Ann Clark: President; Contact David Hicks for more information; hicksdp@juno.com The Queen s Castle Beekeeping Association (Escambia and surrounding counties) meets the last Saturday of the month at 9:30AM; US Hwy 29 Andalusia, AL Annie Jo Peavey: President; contact number (OJ and Lucy Blount) Tri County Beekeepers Association (Lamar, Fayette, and Marion Counties) meets the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30PM; Vernon Housing Authority Community Room; 230 Strickland Circle, Vernon, Al. Patti Butler: president; Walker County Beekeeping Association meets the fourth Monday of every month at 6:30PM (except July and December with a picnic to be scheduled in July); Ext Svc Bldg, 1501 N. Airport Road, Jasper, AL. Lonnie Funderburg: President; ; funder@otelco.net December 2017 Page 14

15 West Alabama Beekeepers Association (Tuscaloosa and surrounding counties) meets the third Thursday of the month at 6:00PM; Tuscaloosa Extension Auditorium, th Street, Tuscaloosa, Al Vince Wallace: President; ; Wiregrass Beekeeping Association (Houston and surrounding counties) meets on the first Thursday of the month at 7:00PM; Houston County Extension Office, 1699 Ross Clark Circle, Dothan, Al. Steve Loveland: President; contact at wiregrassbeekeepers.com/contact...and for our friends near Douglasville Ga. West Georgia Beekeepers Association meets the fourth Monday of the month at 6:30; American Legion, 6449 Bankhead Hwy, Douglasville Ga. For more information contact Marilynne Parker, President If you are a member of an organization not listed please let me know. If you would like to add any contact information or other information to your organization s listing, please send to carterbees@charter.net or call me at Please help us keep this list up-to-date. Editor Alabama Master Beekeepers News The Alabama Master Beekeeper Program is having the annual certification classes Feb , 2018 in Clanton at the Performance Arts Center, for apprentice, journeyman, and Master Beekeeper. There is also an intensive beginning beekeeper class for the first time beekeeper. For the first time we are offering training for the Welch Honey Judge certification. Register now at alabamamasterbeekeepers.com or call Gerry Whitaker at (334) December 2017 Page 15

16 Ingredients: The Stinger - Newsletter of the Alabama Beekeepers Association In The Kitchen Struffoli (Honey Drenched Christmas Fritters) 3 1/2 cups flour 6 eggs, plus 1 egg yolk 1 lemon, zested and juiced, plus 1 lemon, zested 1 orange, zested 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon limoncello 4 cups canola or peanut oil, for frying 2 cups honey Powdered sugar, for dusting Directions: In a mixing bowl, place flour, eggs, yolk, zest of 1 lemon, orange zest, salt, and limoncello and mix well to form a firm dough, 8 to 10 minutes. Place in the refrigerator and allow to rest 30 minutes. Remove from the refrigerator and cut golf ball-sized pieces of dough from the main batch. Roll each ball into a 1/2-inch thick dowel (rope) and cut each dowel into 1/2-inch pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and continue until finished with all dough. In a 12 to 14-inch skillet with at least 3-inch sides, heat the oil to 375 degrees F. Drop enough balls in to cover about half of the surface of frying oil and cook until dark golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to turn them regularly, and expect them to puff up while cooking. As they finish, remove them to a tray covered with paper towels, and drain well. This should take at least 5 batches. When all of the struffoli are cooked, heat the honey, lemon juice, and zest together in a wide 6 to 8 quart saucepan until quite warm, about 150 degrees F, and substantially thinner. Add struffoli to honey and stir carefully until well coated. Remove from heat and allow to cool 5 minutes in the pan, stirring regularly. Pour out into a large serving tray in the form of either a pyramid or a ring mold. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve. Submitted by; Miele Marino December 2017 Page 16

17 Classifieds Looking for something? Check the classifieds. Do you have something to sell? List it in The Stinger Call or I have great North Alabama Floral honey for sale, in 5-gallon buckets. This year was a great honey production year, unlike last year. I have far too much honey. What a great problem to have!! I have two additional items for sale on the stinger list: (1) De-capping apparatus from a Ohio Supplier. It is The Blue Sky European de capping apparatus. It is like new, as it has only worked two boxes of honey frames. I paid $ plus delivery for this contraption. I wish to sell it for only, $ plus delivery. It comes to you, just as I received it. No, instructions. No, parts list. No warranty. (2) One 220-lb. SS bottling tank, with $140.00, SS Dadant bottling valve. Also comes with 5-gallon, SS Filter/Screen. Selling Cost, $300.00, all in great like new condition. Filter never used. My phone number is: Henry C. Rollins 4302 Lakeview Drive Huntsville, Alabama Rear your own queens using the cell punch method. No tedious transferring of delicate larvae. This kit includes the cell punch tool as well as some other useful items to get you started raising queens. Also included is 2 pages of instructions with color photos. To obtain your kit send $20 plus $2.50 shipping to: Wil Montgomery 1401 Lakemont Drive S. Southside, Alabama Kit will ship the next day December 2017 Page 17

18 Lookout Mountain Honey Bees Our 2018 Beginning Beekeepers Class will begin Thursday January 18th and will be held each week on Thursday nights through March 1st. The field day will be March 10th. The cost will be $ single person or $ per couple. This includes books, folders, handouts, food and drinks each week, door prizes each week, grand prize of complete beehive kit, and field day cost. If you are not a class student and just want to attend field day the cost is $ Anyone can attend field day. Lunch, drinks, snacks, handouts will be provided for field day. The class is limited to 20 people. If you are interested in attending the class, please give us a call today get on the list We are now taking orders for 3lb pkg Bees w/ queen for Spring 2018 pickup. The 1st pick up will be Friday, March 22nd. and Saturday, March 23rd. The cost for pkgs will be $ each. Any Bee Club's that want to go in as a group and get an order together for 50 or more packages, AS A BEE CLUB GROUP ONLY, will receive packages for $ each. We are also taking orders for 5 frame Nucs, which will be $ each. We also will have Queens for sale beginning in March All Pkg Bees, Nucs and queens are pre order, pre pay. To place an order please call anytime 7 days a week. We always stand behind our packages and queens and carry ALL Beekeeping equipment. Our hives are cut, built and painted on site. We use the best white pine and beeswax fountain for our hives and supers. We talk to anyone that has a bee questions, advice or think there Bees have a problem. We are always here for the beekeeper long after you buy any product or bees from us. Check out our reviews and our Lookout Mountain Honey Bees Facebook page. Lookout Mountain Honey bees is offering a detailed class on How to raise Queens. In this class you will learn how to select what equipment you need to use for raising Queens. But not just equipment, you will learn how to select which hives you would raise Queens from and get experienced hands on grafting. Maybe a chance to instrumentally inseminate a few Queens too. You will learn how to set up a Queen yard as well as drone production hives since the Drones contribute 55% of the genetics of the Queens off spring. The class is limited to 15 students it will be held April 20 & 21. Call David Kelton at or honeybees60@gmail.com To register and get hotel accommodations. The cost is $225 the fee covers books, hand outs, grafting equipment, two days lunch, snacks and drinks. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL & MAY YOU HAVE A PROSPEROUS & HAPPY NEW YEAR December 2017 Page 18

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20 The Stinger 216 Hershel Drive Gardendale, AL Place Stamp Here